It is the second novel the independent production company, based in the UK and LA, has optioned from the author, the first being Under in 2016. The deal was brokered by agents Jennifer Wills and Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency in New York.

Captured follows 17-year-old Abriana Vega who ends up blindfolded in a trunk of a car during a first date with a man she met online. According to online platform Wattpad, it received 15.6million reads worldwide.

Andrew Cole-Bulgin, group chief creative officer and head of film and TV at Komixx Entertainment, said: “Kelly Anne Blount is one of the biggest names in the exciting pool of talent emerging from platforms such as Wattpad. Her loyal and global fan base is a testament to the quality of stories and writing represented by both Captured and Under, and we’re delighted she has entrusted us to bring these narratives to the screen.”

He described the deal as “yet another example of Komixx’s ability to identify valuable IP from exciting new sources to develop for film and TV”.

Earlier this month a US publishing start-up founder toldThe Bookseller that that “Hollywood is gobbling up intellectual property at a rate that no one has seen before”. Adam Gomolin, also c.e.o. of Inkshares, discussed "mapping out the global story economy" to make it more efficient.